Try as I may to not buy more Christmas docor, I just couldn't resist getting this cage lantern that was on sale. It was so me! I loved it, even though I didn't really love everything about it at first glance. I took another look at it and knew I could make it better. So I brought it home all excited to give it a make-over, and that's what I did!
I dressed it up for Christmas and it looks even better than I had imagined. I love it when that happens! And, I love everything about it now. Especially since it was sixty-percent off, making it eight dollars instead of twenty! And in justifying the purchase I figure this can be used throughout the year and changed for other holidays and seasons too.
This is how it looked when I found it at the craft store. It's not bad as is, plus simply adding something to the inside would have been fine. But, I had a different vision for it, so I gave it the look I had in mind rather than it's original appearance.
I removed the decoration that was on the top, it was only wired on so that was easy. I removed the berries and pine cone that were attached, leaving just the greenery. It was already formed into a circle so I adjusted it a little and just sat it down inside at the bottom, then placed a votive candle holder in the center.
I added a few small gold Christmas ornaments around the greenery and votive, and then made some extra embellishments using the gold sprarkle ribbon and beaded chain that I wired into loops, I simply tucked those into the greenery.
I tied on a bow using the gold sparkle ribbon to the top, then wired three ornaments together and attached them just beneath the bow with the wire I had already attached to them.
A faux candle placed into the votive holder completes the lantern, and gives it a nice glow. It's a beautiful addition to my Christmas decor and adds even more sparkle!
